through Saturday, June 25
matinees at 1 pm
Little did renowned singer Debby Boone know in 1977 that her super hit "You Light Up My Life" would have such an impact 34 years later. She is indeed still singing it to the delight of her fans, but is literally lighting up their lives with a warm and lovely nostalgic concert in honor of her mother-in-law, iconic singer Rosemary Clooney. Boone is doing for this wonderful music what Linda Ronstadt did several years ago - making it a vibrant part of the listening repertoire of current and hopefully future generations. Now on tour Boone can be seen through Saturday at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido in Debby Boone/Rosemary Clooney, her one woman tribute through song to the legend, backed by a magnificent 5 piece orchestra led by John Otto.
Otto also served as Rosemary Clooney's musical director for the last 20 years of her career.
Boone is simply gorgeous to look at, with a Jane Fonda figure, and radiates such warmth and happiness from the stage that audiences cannot help but have a love affair with her. And her generous dedication to the music of yesteryear is astounding. Her technique and delivery with this material have been noticeably influenced by Clooney's dulcet tones and star presence, and she takes it and makes it her very own. Boone has a lot of fun with the audience throwing out bits of family trivia throughout. "You do remember my father... Pat Boone?" "My cousin-in-law George... that's George Clooney...?"
It is much like a visit to Boone's house where she shows you some pictures and tells you some simple stories about just being around Rosemary Clooney, her charisma and its positive effect on everybody. Take, for example, "Blue Skies". Boone found a cassette tape of Clooney singing it acapella to her grandchild, Boone's little daughter. She plays the tape and makes us delight in Rosemary's beautifully organic voice. She was unfettered and totally natural with clear, clean phrasing - even outside the recording studio and off a stage. Another great little anecdote that Boone tells of Clooney is how she never warmed up before going on stage. Boone toured many years with her in Rosemary Clooney's White Christmas Party and testifies to Rosie's probable irritation with Debby warming up in the dressing room next door, and then goes on to sing the warm up number, the very fast pattered ditty "Cloudburst" that would cause any singer to cringe from its vocally complex demands. A wonderfully amusing and enjoyable segment!
Besides the songs honoring Clooney Boone also pays homage to her grandfather, country singer Red Foley and then sprinkles in a few numbers of her own in praise of her family like "Home". Some of the highlights include: "More Than You Know", "From This Moment On", "It Never Entered My Mind"/"In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", "So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Peace in the Valley", "You're Gonna Hear From Me", "But Beautiful", "Time After Time", "You and The Night and the Music", a tease for her all new show entitled Swing This, and as encore, "You Light Up My Life".
Kudos to great musicians John Otto at the piano, Bob Steinway on trumpet, John Recovic on sax, Bob Magnuson on bass and Jack Hamilton on drums. They add such brilliance to the 90-minute set.
Debby Boone is a knockout. She has it all: beauty, personality, a wonderful voice and what is most rare for a singer - the ability to share in intimate, humorous detail the personal side of her life. Of course it's been a happy one and we leave happier from having experienced mere moments of it. Don't miss her show through Saturday June 25 in Escondido.
http://www.welktheatersandiego.com/
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